Beginner Having Problem With A Singer 45K25.

[ukfossil]

I think you have your thread controler set wrong,

try like mine and see if it helps,

good luck, mick

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

What Jim Said!!!!!!!

When I sell machines to novices I can always tell those who listen to my advice as they actually spend time practicing (staring with no thread) and learn to guide the work ring me and tell me that they are very happy. Those who just try to sew their major project as soon as they get the machine ring me and complain.

This is an excellent looking machine and should give you decades of pleasure even when you add a 441 clone to your collection.

[Les No6]

Hi Edvin

I have a 45K wax pot laying around somewhere Ill fish it out and if you send me your address Ill pop it in the post for you. Waxed thread won’t work as to liquid wax and thread lube it is good practice to lubricate the thread on heavy machines light paraffin oil (readily available as baby oil) is an excellent clean thread lube, vegetable oil can also be used but do’s dry in time and needs cleaning, my personal favourite is linseed oil (thread varnish) there’s extra work involved with this the machine needs cleaning twice weekly if you are oiling the shuttle thread this has to be used the same day, and when you use the machine on a new day you need to pull the top thread through and remove the thread with dry oil. And finally liquid wax can be made by dissolving paraffin wax in white spirit with due care. UKfossil is right the thread take up is in the wrong position and most probably creating the problems you are having.

Edited October 4, 2012 by Les No6

[CustomDoug]

Hi Edvin

I have a 45K wax pot laying around somewhere Ill fish it out and if you send me your address Ill pop it in the post for you. Waxed thread won’t work as to liquid wax and thread lube it is good practice to lubricate the thread on heavy machines light paraffin oil (readily available as baby oil) is an excellent clean thread lube, vegetable oil can also be used but do’s dry in time and needs cleaning, my personal favourite is linseed oil (thread varnish) there’s extra work involved with this the machine needs cleaning twice weekly if you are oiling the shuttle thread this has to be used the same day, and when you use the machine on a new day you need to pull the top thread through and remove the thread with dry oil. And finally liquid wax can be made by dissolving paraffin wax in white spirit with due care. UKfossil is right the thread take up is in the wrong position and most probably creating the problems you are having.

I did not know baby oil and paraffin oil were the same thing... will these oils not stain the leathers? Also, what's "white spirit"? On the same note though, I read an interesting idea somewhere that mentioned someone used a mixture of Paraffin and liquid starch in their wax pot. I assumed it was paraffin wax but now that you've mentioned it Les maybe it was oil.

Edited October 4, 2012 by CustomDoug

[Les No6]

I did not know baby oil and paraffin oil were the same thing... will these oils not stain the leathers? Also, what's "white spirit"? On the same note though, I read an interesting idea somewhere that mentioned someone used a mixture of Paraffin and liquid starch in their wax pot. I assumed it was paraffin wax but now that you've mentioned it Les maybe it was oil.

Yes baby oil is high grade paraffin oil, oil will stain some leathers the thread should be just damped with oil some machines have some form of wiper in the wax pot to remove excess oil, pots without these can have a sponge placed in the bottom and the thread picks up oil from the sponge. White spirit also known as turpentine substitute, mineral spirit, paint thinner, it’s a paraffin distillate (basically paraffin with the oils removed) paraffin can be used in its place however here in the UK paraffin is ridiculously priced and I object to paying more for paraffin than diesel out of the pump which is a higher grade fuel oil and subject to large road fuel duty!! (Rant over). The mixture of paraffin and liquid starch was probably paraffin a mixture popular among corner stitches in the UK was soap flakes soaked overnight then paraffin added; paraffin alone can also be used. I wouldn’t advise the use of mix’s containing solvents on manmade threads.

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

Two weeks ago I spoke to one of the premier saddlers in Australia and he uses a 45k25 for most of his machine stitching.

Sewing is 95% technique and 5% equipment.

[nategines]

I just got one of these machines too. Was trying to figure out what kind of linen thread to use. I was planning on a 4 cord but now sure if I should be buying Left or Right twist. What do you guys think?

[Wizcrafts]

Left twist only in standard lockstitch machines. Right twist thread is used in some curved needle sole stitchers and in most dual needle machines for the left needle and hook only.

If you are thinking of running linen thread in a Singer 45k, I wish you luck. I'm not saying it can't be done; just that it will be harder and messier than you think. First of all, make sure your machine has a Singer wax pot on top and that the holes are open and any internal guides are present and clean. Buy liquid hardening stitching wax, like Sellari's, Lax Wax, or Ceroxylon. I found Lax Wax had too much water content, looked like milk and softened the linen thread so much it kept breaking on the upstrokes. Ceroxylon looks and feels like rubber cement and also has a water base that softens linen thread in modern lockstitch machines. Sellari's is a real liquid wax. It is very sticky, like pure, thick honey, or STP. The wax will harden inside the stitch holes and lock the knots together and make the thread water resistant. It will need to be cleaned out of all guides, tensioners and the hook and race right after you finish sewing. Don't let it harden in the machine. You can dilute it in the wax pot and clean the thread path and needle with Sellari's wax thinner.

[jimi]

check out your other post nategines. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=68528&hl= i have done some tests with the linen thread and the binder on the 45k21 machine and posted it there. good luck.